Solid responses against English and Bird opening?

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Avatar of FearlessPawns

I'd like to hear about your experiences about solid responses against English and Bird openings.

Avatar of helltank

I usually play this line in the English:



Avatar of FearlessPawns

Is an English symetrical variation. And starts like a Caro-Kann until 3rd move. Seems reasonable to me.

Avatar of -BEES-

You can transpose into the Tarrasch defence against the English. I generally go with From's Gambit against Bird. But you have to be prepared for King's Gambit with Black if you play e5.

Avatar of duck_and_cover

Against the Bird, just play a reversed mainline Dutch: 1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 g6.

White's extra tempo doesn't turn the Dutch Defence into an attacking weapon.

Avatar of theidoogy

bermen against english, dutch against bird, just the most solid moves to go with in a flank opening. From there, you can go to any direction you want, if it's controlling the center, fianchetto, knights, and etc.

Avatar of pfren

1...e5 against both is fine.

Avatar of pfren
jempty_method wrote:
pfren wrote:

1...e5 against both is fine.

Possibly, but I wouldn't characterize From's Gambit 1. f4 e5 as solid, would you?

Absolutely solid.

Black will simply develop with ...Nf6, 0-0, Nc6 etc and play against the liabilities in white's position, which are well worth a pawn.

No need for ...g5 crap and such.

Avatar of Bill_C

Anglo-indian now against the English (I have a nice 3 minute win against my friend in Portland when we raided the PSU cafeteria on a Wednesday night)

Against the Bird, I will simply try for the reversed Dutch and take my chances, especially if White is Kind enough to let me get Bg4 in after developing his Knight.

Avatar of Bill_C

I will say that opening scheme for Black does not seem to be for the faint of heart for sure. I have gone wrong in it about as many times as I have gone right LOL.

Avatar of pfren
vengence69 wrote:

I will say that opening scheme for Black does not seem to be for the faint of heart for sure. I have gone wrong in it about as many times as I have gone right LOL.

Actually it's very easy to play, and very solid. The only mistake Black may commit is counting the pawns!

Here is a recent centaur game, where Black had zero problems. Just notice how natural and predictable all Black's opening moves are:



Avatar of Irontiger

@helltank (#2) : one day, White will play 6.Nxe5 and you will understand why you cannot play it. Yo do not lose a pawn, but you lose a central pawn, the pair of bishop, and create a monster on g2.